Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

Probably my favorite fashion photographers today are the team of Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Maybe this is not a word used in photography critiques, but "stunning" is my immediate reaction. The imagery is saturated -- fully saturated -- and I don't just mean colour or exposure. There is an overall richness and depth aesthetically and in the emotional impact of the photographs. Their work is not just confined to what goes on behind the camera or with their impeccable lighting -- they are equally involved in the hair and make-up room. They put their stamp on everything that goes into a shot. They live and breathe fashion.

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott met in England in 1994. Alas is from Istanbul, Turkey and Piggott from Bangor, Wales. They credit Guy Bourdin's Charles Jourdan advertising campaign from the 1970s as some of their inspiration. (See my posts on Guy Bourdin.) They are the "it" photographers ... their work in fashion and portraiture has landed them large advertising campaigns and constant editorial work --they are in hot demand ... and I'm guessing that pretty much everyone wants to be photographed by them. (Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott are represented by Art Partner.)

Shakira

Natalie Portman
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan
Ron Cristiano for Emporio Armani Underwear, 2010

Cindy Crawford
Cameron Diaz

David and Victoria Beckham for Emporio Armani Underwear

Abbey Lee Kershaw for Versace

for Alexander McQueen, Fall 2006

Lara Stone (foreground) for Calvin Klein Jeans

Lara Stone for Paris Vogue

for DSquared2, 2009

Lara Stone in Dolce & Gabbana, Fall 2007 (not sure if they know of Jan Saudek or took any inspiration from him, but this could be influenced by his work)


Mariacarla Boscono for Loewe, Madred (this would appear to be influenced by Guy Bourdin, from whom they say they took some of their inspiration)

Jennifer Lopez for Louis Vuitton

for Gucci Spring 2010 Campaign

From the "Pin Up" Series, shot for W Magazine, 2008

From the "Pin Up" Series, shot for W Magazine, 2008

From the "Pin Up" Series, shot for W Magazine, 2008

Whitney Houston 1963-2012

Getty Images / Photographer Unknown

David LaChapelle

Photographer Unknown (Whitney at the Superbowl singing National Anthem)

Photographer Unknown

AP Photo / Dan Steinberg

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When "photographer unknown" is indicated, but the photographer is known, please let me know and I will add photo credit.

A Time & Place for Paparazzi?

This post is not intended to celebrate the paparazzi subculture, but instead to pose the question: if they were relegated to a time and a place, along with some constraints and a sense of rule and order, would their contributions be welcome? (Disclaimer: I am sorry to admit that I have been known to buy tabloids -- blame it on the long lines at the grocery store.) If not for the orderly, respectful conduct of the paparazzi (and barricades and security!) we see at events like the Golden Globes, we would not have the pleasure of seeing Angelina in her Atelier Versace gown on the red carpet.

Photo Credit: Tumblr / Photographer Unknown

Hats Off!

I have to think I may eventually be doing a "Hats Off, Part II" since researching hats and all things millinery seems potentially infinite. I so enjoyed putting together this post that I had to force myself to stop for fear I'd segue into a fashion glossary rather than a compilation of photographs.

Norman Parkinson (whose photographs of Philip Treacy's millinery and haute couture became a collaboration and art unto itself).

Norman Parkinson

Leombruno-Bodi (1960)

Frank Horvat (1960s)

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Cindy Sherman (1978)

Fernand Fonssgrives

F. C. Gundlach

Jacques Henri Lartigue (of his muse, Renée Perle, 1930)

Richard Avedon (of Mila Jovovich in Yohji Yamamoto)

Photographer Unknown (of President Coolidge, Mrs. Coolidge and Senator Curtis, 1925)

Alistair Grant (of Queen Elizabeth, 2009)

Richard Pohle

Robert Frank

Garry Winogrand (1950s)

Weegee, Hats in Poolroom, Mulberry Street, NYC, 1943

Loomis Dean

Robert Frank

Walker Evans (of Lincoln Kirstein, 1930)

Frank Horvat (for Givenchy, 1957)

Glen E. Friedman (of Run DMC)

Photographer Unknown (of David and Victoria Beckham)

Max Vadukul (of Rachel Weiss)

Regina Relang

Photographer Unknown

Photographer Unknown / Credit: Life Magazine (of Princess Diana)

Photographer Unknown

Photographer Unknown (at the horse races, 1920)

Photographer Unknown (1940; credit: The Luton News)

Arthur Tress (1978)

Photographer Unknown (of serviceman on Veteran's Day)

Chip Somodevilla (at the Republican National Convention, 2008)

Pete Souza (of President Ronald Reagan)

Pete Souza (of President Barack Obama 2009)

Robert Frank (1954)

Photographer Unknown (1898)

Pierre & Gilles

Cindy Sherman

John Rawlings

Henry Clark (1954)

Henry Clark (1954)

Rodney Smith

Charles C. Ebbets (1932)

Cecil Beaton

Chris Gulker

Margaret Bourke-White (of a Hindu man, 1946)

Margaret Bourke-White (of a Georgian peasant worker, 1941)

Louise Dahl-Wolfe (1963)

John Rawlings

Greg Gorman

Phil Poynter

Lillian Bassman (1955)

Lillian Bassman (1956)

Erwin Blumenfeld

Greg Kadel

John French (of Jean Shrimpton)

John French (of Tania Mallet, 1960s)

Adolph de Meyer

Erwin Blumenfeld (of Audrey Hepburn)

Edward Steichen (1924)

John French

Edward Steichen (1939)

Francesco Scavullo (of Madonna, 1984)

Steven Meisel (of Madonna)

Herb Ritts (of Naomi Campbell)

John Rawlings (1957)

Adolph de Meyer (1921)

Arthur Elgort

Arthur Elgort
Norman Parkinson

Sarah Moon

Edward Steichen (of yachting ladies, some of whom are wearing Chanel, 1928)

Loomis Dean
Regina Relang

Alistair Grant (at the Royal Ascot horse races, 2008)

John Rawlings
Patrick Demarchelier (of Christy Turlington, 1992)